ROCHFORD: Tributes paid to man who died in crash

Tributes have been paid to a local pensioner who died in a car crash on Ashingdon Road in Rochford, over the weekend.

70 year old David Churn from Plumberow Avenue in Hockley, died when his Toyota Hilux struck a blue Ford Fiesta and then left the road colliding with a lamppost, electricity post and a tree at around 12.40pm on Saturday (28 Aug).

The Essex Air Ambulance attended but the doctor from the aircraft certified Mr Churn dead at the scene. No one else was injured in the crash although a woman passenger in the Fiesta suffered shock.  Police say Mr Churn could have fallen ill at the wheel.

The Fiesta was being driven by a 61-year-old Basildon man.  The road was closed for a number of hours whilst the emergency services dealt with the incident.

Mr Churn was a retired plant driver and had lived in Hockley for the past 17 months, but previously lived in Great Wakering for 16 years.

He was married to Wendy, and leaves a son Gary, and grandchildren Jason and Robby. David was a keen sea and freshwater fisherman and owned his own boat. He and Wendy were planning an extended holiday to New Zealand. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or may have seen the Toyota immediately before is asked to contact the Rayleigh road policing unit on 0300 333 4444, where the officer dealing is Pc Gavin Freeman.